Two out of three gardaí have not received adequate training in the law while over half have not been instructed on how to investigate sexual assaults, according to a report on garda training.

The report, which was commissioned by garda commissioner Fachtna Murphy in 2008, also found gardaí had major "skill, knowledge and behaviour" gaps in the key policing duties of court practices and procedures and statement taking.

The 450-page report on garda training and development also found that 44% of gardaí had significant skills gaps in relation to key competencies such as "commitment to high standards", "community orientation", "problem solving" and "teamwork".

The report identified the top five activities of gardaí as car patrols, station duties, court duty, foot patrol and traffic duty.

"More training on legislation, investigating sexual assaults, court practice and procedure and taking statements is recommended to ensure gardaí are proficiently trained to effectively conduct key activities", warned the report, which was conducted by private and public-sector training experts as well as senior gardaí.

Similarly, skill gaps were found in more senior ranks. Two out of three garda sergeants were not trained in "legislation and the law of evidence" while almost half (46%) had no training in "garda strategic goals".

"In five out of the nine competencies for sergeant rank 50-60% of sergeants had not received training," noted the report.

Even at superintendent rank, the report identified an 86% skills gap in "financial and budgetary knowledge", which means that only a handful of superintendents have been adequately trained for such a key task.

While recognising the advancements made in some areas of garda training, the report suggests that one of the reasons for such a significant skills gap across all ranks is the "low attendance at continuous professional development (CPD) training".

There are also "significant gaps in training, lack of programmes and CPD at some ranks, little monitoring or support systems in place for personal development" and a lack of IT-supported virtual training facilities, the report says.

The review group, which visited police-training facilities in the US, UK and Europe, recommended that the long- awaited training centre in Dromard House, just five miles from Templemore, "should be progressed as a matter of priority". It recommends the facilities on this 250-acre site include firearms ranges, driver training areas and a mock urban structure.

Top Five Skill Training Gaps

Gardai

1. Legislation 64%
2. Investigating sexual assaults 55%
3. Court practice and procedures 33%
4. Statement taking 30%
5. Access to quick reference 29%

Sergeant

1. Legislation and the law of evidence 66%
2. Garda strategic goals 46%
3.Office duties 30%
4.Supervision 28%
5. Directing/coaching/delegating 27%

Inspectors

1. Legal and court procedure 69%
2. Knowledge of training gaps 60%
3. Crime investigation management 56%
4. Development 47%
5. Monitoring performance 45%

Superintendent

1. Financial and budgetary knowledge 86%
2. Monitoring performance 62%
3. Organising and planning behaviour 60%
4. Directing, coaching, supporting 59%
5. Law and court procedure 58%